Jan 22, 2015
Love Does Not Envy – I Corinthians 13:4
— Pastor David Taylor
Central SDB Church
Mitchellville, MD
ENVY is called a “green-eyed-monster”. It can be defined as a resentful emotion which “occurs when a person lacks another’s (perceived) superior quality, achievement or possession and wishes that the other lacked it.”
“Envy, after all, comes from wanting something that isn’t yours. But grief comes from losing something you’ve already had.” — Jodi Picoult
In the Bible the English word “Envy” is translated from two Old Testament words meaning envy and jealous; and three New Testament words meaning envious, desire, to covet.
For thus it is written: “And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice to God; and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the fat thereof. And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He did not regard. And Cain was deeply grieved, and his countenance fell. And God said to Cain, Why are you grieved, and why is your countenance fallen? If you offer rightly, but do not divide rightly, have you not sinned? Be at peace: your offering returns to yourself, and you shall again possess it. And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him.”
We can see how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother.
Through envy, also, Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother.
Envy made Joseph to be persecuted and to come into bondage.
Acts 7:9 “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him.”
Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh King of Egypt when he heard these words from his fellow countryman, “Who made you a judge or a ruler over us? Will you kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?”
“Never underestimate the power of jealousy and the power of envy to destroy.” – Oliver Stone
Because of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their home outside of the camp.
Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram, through the sedition which they excited against God’s servant Moses.
Psalm 106:17 “The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.”
Through envy, David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul King of Israel.
Consider what the Bible has to say about ENVY:
Job 5:2 — “For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.”
Proverbs 3:31 — “Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.”
Proverbs 14:30 — “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.”
Proverbs 23:17 — “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.”
Proverbs 27:4 — “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”
Romans 1:28-32 — “And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome, 29 Until they were filled (permeated and saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. [They were] full of envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery, ill will and cruel ways. [They were] secret backbiters and gossipers, 30 Slanderers, hateful to and hating God, full of insolence, arrogance, [and] boasting; inventors of new forms of evil, disobedient and undutiful to parents. 31 [They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless. 32 Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.”
— Amplified
James 4:5-7 — “5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God…”
Consider This:
Matthew 27:17-18 — “17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”
“Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.” – Harold Coffin
Envy: defined as a resentful emotion which “occurs when a person lacks another’s superior quality, achievement or possession and wishes that the other lacked it.” How that fits the tumultuous crowd that cried out, “crucify Him, crucify Him!”
And yet Jesus who was:
Spit upon by them; Beaten by them; Abused by them; Mocked by them; Betrayed by them; Whipped by them; Tortured by them; and Crucified by them…
Died willingly for them.
Hebrews 12:3 — “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself…”
Hebrews 12:2 — “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“Napoleon envied Caesar, Caesar envied Alexander, and Alexander, I daresay, envied Hercules, who never existed.”— Bertrand Russell (English Logician and Philosopher 1872-1970)
WHY?
“Love looks through a telescope; envy, through a microscope.” — Josh Billings
Because Love (divine love) Does Not Envy!!!
I John 4:18 — “There is no fear in love; but perfect [teleios=complete, full, mature) love [Agapa=divine] casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Have you been made perfect (made complete, full) in the
Divine Love of God?
A wonderful old song asks:
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
Lay aside the garments of failed attempts and wrong turns and bad decisions and be washed in the cleansing and life giving Blood of Jesus our Christ that flows here and now from Calvary!
